JUST one Football League game on the menu for Wednesday. Luckily, Mark O’Haire’s (@MarkOHaire) found a bet to pique our interest.
Blackburn Rovers v Bolton Wanderers | Wednesday 19.45
The premise behind Chuck Berry’s 1960’s hit ‘No Particular Place To Go’ is supposed to document the joys of youth and driving. Berry's comic sense came out in the song's narrative, as the singer and his girl(friend) have their romantic plans foiled by a seat belt that won't open. And although that deviates well off plan, Blackburn’s league season is a perfect adaptation for the song title.
With a promotion push dead and buried, Blackburn have been prioritising the FA Cup. And to good effect too… Their 0-0 draw at Liverpool gives Rovers an excellent chance of reaching Wembley with the Reds due to visit Ewood Park in the replay. Boss Gary Bowyer will fancy his side’s chances of causing an upset.
With that in mind, I’m happy to swerve a punt on the hosts for their Lancashire derby with Bolton on Wednesday night. Rovers have lost six of their last seven meetings with the Trotters and although the visitors arrive with a number of injury concerns and a rotten road record, the smart play looks to be to take Both Teams To Score at 13/15 with 888 Sport.
For starters, since Bowyer took the reigns at Ewood Park Blackburn have won 21/44 (48%) Championship matches on home soil. It’s an impressive tally but only features two victories in six league outings at HQ of late, with goals leaked in five of those six matches. For example, they may have pummelled Blackpool for 90 minutes but for all their dominance, they only had a 1-1 draw to show for their efforts.
It’s now just one clean sheet in 11 for the home side and although 20-year-old sensation Zach Clough is the latest to join Bolton’s list of players on the treatment table, I’d still fancy Neil Lennon’s men to get on the scoresheet – they’ve done so in 10/12 road fixtures since taking charge.
The aforementioned away record has been a constant for Wanderers. It’s now four defeats on the spin, seven losses in 12 under Lennon’s guidance and 21 reverses in 40 Championship games since the start of last season. It’s not pretty but Bolton arrive with a 10-point cushion above the drop zone and should play with a little less pressure as they bid to complete their task of second tier survival.
The Trotters have a decent record for producing Both Teams To Score winners when playing away though, despite those hideous figures. Since the start of last season 22/40 (55%) have banked in the BTTS column with 8/12 (67%) collecting for Both Teams To Score backers under Lennon’s watch. It tallies nicely with Blackburn’s home trends under Bowyer – 23/44 (52%) producing BTTS. So taking the 13/15 on a repeat from 888 Sport looks right up my street.
Best Bets
Blackburn Rovers v Bolton Wanderers – Both Teams To Score (13/15 888 Sport)
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